risk

11.21.09

Being Cute Helps, But It Won't Save You

Which animals need better PR

By M. Farbman Posted 04.07.2009 at 9:49 am 0 Comments

It's always the pretty ones who get the attention. Scientists trying to raise awareness about a mysterious illness affecting bat populations along the East Coast say that bats' sketchy reputation keeps them from getting the attention they deserve.

But being cute didn't help little puppies in Hungary circa 900-1200 AD. New research shows that sacrifices of adult and baby dogs was more widespread than previously thought. The domestic animals were thought to have been killed to protect against evil. (Although apparently not the evil of killing puppies.)

Also in today's links: why it's okay to read this at work, another study on testosterone and risk, and more.

[ Read Full Story ]

READ MORE ABOUT > bats, cuteness, dogs, finance, links, missing links, pollution, risk, smuggling, soap, testosterone

Bad Market? Blame Men

A rumor's going around that risk-taking linked to high testosterone levels caused the crash. Is there any truth to the claim?

By Julia Wallace Posted 10.02.2008 at 12:14 pm 12 Comments

It was only a matter of time before pop-news outlets pounced on a biological explanation for the tidal wave of bad credit and risky decisions that has engulfed the U.S. this month: it was those dang men and their raging hormones!

[ Read Full Story ]

READ MORE ABOUT > decision making, economy, julia wallace, markets, risk, testosterone, the sex files

Car Crashes . . . Criminals . . . Cancer . . . Black Swans? AAAAAIIIEEEH!

Sometimes our biggest fear is not knowing what to fear most. Fortunately, the weird science of risk analysis can teach us to judge better and fear smarter

By James Vlahos Posted 06.13.2005 at 10:00 am 0 Comments

On December 27, 2004, while the world was focused on the Indian Ocean tsunami, a few astronomers were contemplating the possibility of an even deadlier disaster: that of a massive asteroid striking Earth. A fifth of a mile wide—heftier than the space rock that leveled a vast swath of Siberian forest in 1908—Near-Earth Asteroid 2004 MN4 had grabbed the attention of NASA scientists just before Christmas. They put the chance of an April 13, 2029, collision at 1 in 2,700 and two days later upped the odds to 1 in 165.

[ Read Full Story ]